When stepping into a hotel room or rental property, the first thing many of us will do – even before unpacking or taking in the view – is log onto the Wi-Fi.

Be it to check emails, connect with friends with family, or book a local restaurant for dinner, our desire for connectivity means we want to get online fast, and in the most secure way possible.

But those of us who have travelled will know this is far from guaranteed. Internet access can be cumbersome, with the WiFi password hard to find, too long-winded or not working at all, and registering multiple devices isn't always the quick and effortless process we'd like. And when we do get online, we're all too familiar with a painfully slow connection reminiscent of the days of dial-up internet.

There are also security concerns to contend with. Property WiFi is accessible to owners, other guests and previous visitors, and being on an open network can subject users to malware attacks, phishing scams and data breaches.

Liberty Global and CableLabs NaaS Collaboration

We've teamed up with CableLabs as part of our Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) programme to address the frustrations related to insufficient network performance, complicated registration of devices as well as digital safety and security risks – providing travellers with the seamless connectivity they need and meeting their expectations for fast and secure WiFi.

The solution uses two CAMARA APIs to achieve this: The CPE Management: Isolated Network API creates a secure private Wi-Fi network accessible only to the traveller(s) for the duration of the stay and, in combination with the Home Device QoD API – which temporarily upgrades broadband speed tier– allows customisation of the network to best suit guest requirements for the duration of their stay.

Explorer WiFi:

• Creates a private Wi-Fi network. Dedicated Wi-Fi credentials (unique SSID) are generated and shared with the traveller, which they use to connect seamlessly.
• Is only accessible by guests during the time of their stay, with Wi-Fi credentials no longer valid after the period. This adds a layer of protection against man-in-the-middle attacks, providing peace of mind and enhanced security.
• Offers guests the option to request performance upgrades to match broadband needs.
• Is simple to set up and manage and doesn't require any prior tech

This solution is a prime example of how we are embracing NaaS and moving towards offering network functionality through simple APIs, allowing creation and use of customisable and scalable products and applications, without requiring mobile or fixed telco expertise.

Increasing demand for NaaS

The demand for communication network capabilities to address key pain points for enterprises and industry is growing exponentially, and with it brings novel opportunities for NaaS – with appetite coming from a range of sectors, including but not limited to hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare, entertainment and fintech.

The whitespace for new value creation in the B2B market is extensive, and this use case is another key example of how we're innovating in this space.